United’s ultimate goal was finishing in the top four this season and the veteran Dutchman’s three-year contract was cut short after two seasons in the Old Trafford post.

Mourinho was one of the frontrunners to replace Ferguson following the Scot’s retirement in 2013, but was overlooked in favour of David Moyes – Van Gaal’s predecessor.

However, the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager has now landed the prestigious job at Old Trafford and admitted he was delighted to be back in management.

"To become Manchester United manager is a special honour in the game. It is a club known and admired throughout the world. There is a mystique and a romance about it which no other club can match.

"I have always felt an affinity with Old Trafford; it has hosted some important memories for me in my career and I have always enjoyed a rapport with the United fans. I’m looking forward to being their manager and enjoying their magnificent support in the coming years."

United are believed to have fought off interest from French giants Paris Saint-Germain to land Mourinho, with the Red Devils set to revamp their playing squad this summer with a host of new additions.

Van Gaal, who left United with a compensation package reportedly worth around £5 million (US$7.3 million), provoked the ire of the United supporters through his preferred style of play, with abject attacking displays and only 49 Premier League goals to show for the campaign a far cry from the heady Ferguson days.

Mourinho is not known for his attacking football and will surely start by making United harder to beat, but the addition of new faces in the final third is set to make the historic team more menacing on the front foot.

An interesting side-plot will see the Portuguese manager resume his rivalry with Pep Guardiola, who will leave Bayern Munich to join United’s cross-town rivals Manchester City this summer.